Career paths in Bloomberg Economics: “A global, yet tight-knit team”

Yvonne Mhango

South Africa

Can you give us an overview of your role and responsibilities at Bloomberg Economics?

I’m an Africa economist for Bloomberg Economics, and my core coverage countries are South Africa and Nigeria. My responsibilities include providing economic analysis on these countries as well as other African nations, depending on the latest developments. 

The main economic indicators I cover are inflation, interest rates and GDP, and I also look at budgets, currencies and current accounts. 

What lessons or key skills have you learned since joining Bloomberg Economics?

Ever since joining the team, I’ve learned how to write succinct analyses for the countries I cover. There are so many sources of  analysis out there, so providing our clients with concise, timely reports that inform their investment decisions is crucial. I’ve also learned how to better collaborate with my fellow colleagues across regions and sectors. 

What excites you most about your current role?

I really enjoy being an authoritative voice that provides analysis on economic developments in Africa.

In your view, what sets Bloomberg Economics apart from similar departments at other firms?

Bloomberg Economics is a truly global department, covering all corners of the world. In addition, we have a great modeling team and geoeconomics team, which really adds value to our analysis.

What do you like most about the culture at Bloomberg, and how do you get involved in the workplace outside of your day-to-day role?

I like the fact that it’s a collegial environment. People are approachable and have a collaborative spirit. On top of my day-to-day role, I’m currently part of a team that organizes team-bonding events for the bureau.

Taro Kimura

Tokyo

Can you give us an overview of your role and responsibilities at Bloomberg Economics?

My primary role is to publish analysis regarding Japan’s economy on the Terminal. My reports range from reactions to key data releases and central bank meetings to in-depth analyses of timely topics. I also produce Bloomberg Economics’ in-house forecasts for Japan’s economy and monetary policy. Occasionally, I contribute quotes to news stories, speak at events, and make media appearances. 

My morning begins with checking overnight market moves in FX and interest rates. When there are releases of major economic indicators such as CPI and GDP, I quickly put together a reaction report and respond to questions from clients. Afterwards, I spend some time brainstorming ideas for research projects and writing analytical reports.

What lessons or key skills have you learned since joining Bloomberg Economics?

I’ve learned the importance of being timely when it comes to choosing topics and delivering reports. Every second counts for our clients. Economic data is often released at a specific time, but it is us economists who interpret what it means for the market, and we are responsible for making our analysis available to our clients as quickly as possible.  In addition, market moves are getting increasingly hard to predict, so I’ve also widened my skillset beyond that of a conventional economist. For instance, I’ve become a lot more dialed into geopolitical risks, especially as world events have a major impact on markets and the economy through various ways. 

What excites you most about your current role?

I’m passionate about helping clients better understand the dynamism of Japan’s economy and markets, which are driven by unique and complex factors. When I correctly called the Bank of Japan’s July interest rate hike, and when I published a report on the yen carry trade in August, I received positive feedback from many clients in Japan and abroad.

In your view, what sets Bloomberg Economics apart from similar departments at other firms?

Bloomberg Economics is a global yet tight-knit team. Every week, all of us economists meet online to discuss key topics in our respective economies, as well as our work achievements. It’s great learning about the dynamic global economy from a group of top-notch economists, and to apply key takeaways to my own work.

What do you like most about the culture at Bloomberg, and how do you get involved in the workplace outside of your day-to-day role?

Bloomberg’s collaborative culture is a big draw. I exchange views on economic, political, and business issues with colleagues from Bloomberg News and other research departments on a daily basis, and this gives me plenty of inspiration.

Bjorn Van Roye

Spain

Can you give us an overview of your role and responsibilities at Bloomberg Economics?

I am the head of the Global Economic Modelling team, which consists of 9 economists. As part of my role, I coordinate model development and research topics across the team, and also present our research at conferences and events all over the world. 

I’m currently working on a big project, which involves combining state-of-the art economic modeling with up-to-date Bloomberg data to create research insights that are pushed live on the Bloomberg Terminal. 

What lessons or key skills have you learned since joining Bloomberg Economics?

Nothing worth doing is easy. I think it’s so important to stay focused, patient and determined in the face of challenges. My team is currently developing innovative research models in a new software environment, and we’ve faced hurdles along the way – but we’ve persevered, worked with colleagues across departments to solve problems, and delivered results for clients. 

What excites you most about your current role?

I love many things about my current role — my team’s camaraderie, the topics we cover, as well as the trust my managers have placed in me. 

In your view, what sets Bloomberg Economics apart from similar departments at other firms?

We are given a lot of independence and flexibility to implement our ideas. We are also very international and diverse, which I think is a critical plus for us. 

What do you like most about the culture at Bloomberg, and how do you get involved in the workplace outside of your day-to-day role?

I like the firm’s flat hierarchy and multicultural makeup, which means we are able to build collegial relationships with our colleagues, no matter their level or title. I also appreciate our philanthropic efforts, and am planning to get more involved in some projects next year.

Estelle Ou

Washington, D.C.

Can you give us an overview of your role and responsibilities at Bloomberg Economics?

I analyze the U.S. economy. This involves helping clients understand the broader implications of the latest data and providing insights into the outlook for the economy and Federal Reserve policy.

What lessons or key skills have you learned since joining Bloomberg Economics?

I have a background in intelligence gathering and policy, and did not have much experience in forecasting prior to joining the firm. Since then, however, I’ve learned from colleagues how to develop forecast models and provide clients with insights into the data that shapes the economic outlook.

What excites you most about your current role?

I like that my current role offers immense growth potential due to the diverse talent at Bloomberg Economics. I work alongside geoeconomic analysts and machine learning engineers, and through these interactions, I’m continually expanding my expertise and enhancing my fundamental analytical toolkit, which will help me take on new challenges as I move forward in my career.

In your view, what sets Bloomberg Economics apart from similar departments at other firms?

The talent at Bloomberg Economics — which spans government, economics, finance, and engineering backgrounds — is what sets us apart. Our analytical framework goes beyond traditional economics, drawing on interdisciplinary approaches that include policy-making perspectives, engineering solutions, and financial expertise. This broad toolkit allows us to provide a more comprehensive analysis than our peers.

What do you like most about the culture at Bloomberg, and how do you get involved in the workplace outside of your day-to-day role?

I really like the collaborative atmosphere, and the open-plan offices encourage interaction across diverse teams. Additionally, I get to attend technical seminars held by engineering colleagues, which help foster my personal growth.